Fluid controlled alarm system for jails



Dec. 22, 1953 o. w. BECKER 2,663,271

FLUID CONTROLLED ALARM SYSTEM FOR JAILS Filed Dec. 23, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1' "-M" 1*? L w! W Th 'WAi'} L.- U x L 1 ////////////////////////Z% (L r" AH.

INVENT OTTO W.BE ER ATT RNEYS- Patented Dec. 22, 1953 ATENT. OFFICE m f f a a 1Claim. (cuts-iii My invention refers to escape-prooi jail con struction and it has for it primary-object-:to

provide tubular cell bars for partitions, windows, doors and locks therefor, all of which are charged with a constant volume of fluid, under pressure,

whereby attempts by prisoners to cut their way out will-develop a fluid leakage, causing the fluid pressure contained in the structure to automatically lower-and signal an alarm to the guard.

Particularattention is-called to the fact that anystandard type of lock is'provided-witha hcl lowlatchhaving a flexible tubeconnected -with the tube fluid sysJtem-and-thatthe associated socketed-latch plate is also hollow and in circuit with the fluid under --pressure, whereby any at tempt to damage the lock parts will develop a leakage, resulting iii-a drop of the fluid pressure to signal an alarm.

Another object of my invention is, under certain conditions, to provide a standard hot water heatingsystenrin communication with the tubular bars, the said heating system comprising the usual furnacehaving hot water supfiplyand return pipes, an expansion tank, and pressure gauge,

communicatingwith an alarm bellelectric circuit; It-is also contemplated that the hot water heating system, in addition to filling the tubular jail bars, may be tapped for supplying heat to other apartments and buildings, if desired.

It j, is further understood that any anti-freeze or;rustproof fluid maybe employed to supply the jail tubes, under pressure, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

With the above and other objects in view,

which will appear as the description proceeds,

the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claim.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of the present invention constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a diagrammatic view of a jail cell section connected up with a hot water heating system, embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional face view of a tubular door hinge.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail partly sectional face view of a door lock, embodying the salient features of my invention; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail elevation of a modified form of door, wherein the same is slid-1 ably mounted, thesame being partly in section.

Referring by characters to the drawings, I indicates a series of tubular cell bars, connected at their top and bottom by tubular header bars 2. The tubular cell bars are formed with a door opening3, -and, as best indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, one of the tubes I about the door opening has securedthereto a hollow pintle bracket 4 by interrupting the tube I and threadingthe interrupted ends of said tube into the bracket.

The ends of thep-intle bracket are provided with vertically disposed hollow pintles i4, which,

pintles communicate .with the fixed sectional tube; l'. 'I'hepintles.4.,have journaled therein end sectionsj of a tube ,6, whichfltube forms the rear hinged: portionoi a swine nadqorl, t e. e beinglfltted in the; opening 3, and havin an outer tube; fivtogether with a Series of inner parallel tube's iallxof which are transversely connected by. tubes iatgtheirlupperand lower ends, as best indicated inEig. -1 of thedrawings.

The outer doortube 5 is interrupted centrally and the interrupted ends thereof are in threaded union with 2.5.1901; housing 8, as best indicated n Eie. 350i the draw -i iThe. walis oftheire ta su a 0 h u are formed with an inner jacket 8', which jacket is spaced from the outer walls to form a fluid channel 9 encasing the housing and communicating with the tubular bars 5.

For convenience in construction, the lock housing is suitably secured to one of the vertically disposed intermediate door tubes, as shown, the same paralleling the outer door tube 5.

Slidably mounted in the lock housing 3 is a reciprocative hollow latch NJ. The reciprocative latch I0 is provided with a nipple It, which nipple is connected to one end of a flexible tube H. The opposite end of the tube communicates with a pipe section l2, which pipe section also communicates with the housing channel 9, whereby fluid, under pressure, from said channel is supplied to the hollow latch l0, it being understood that said latch is under key control, not shown.

Thus when the latch is reciprocated under its key control, the flexible tube II will permit free movement of the same, while it will also maintain its constant communication with the fluid under pressure.

The door opening tube l, which is parallel with the door tube is interrupted opposite the housing and the threaded interrupted ends thereof are connected to a hollow latch plate I3, which plate is formed with a socket [3 for engaging the tongue end of the latch it.

As best illustrated in the diagrammatic view, Fig. 1 of the drawings, fluid, under pressure, is supplied to the tubular bars I, and associated door, by a hot water delivery pipe 24, and a riser pipe M, from the delivery pipe, communicates with a standard expansion tank it, that is positioned at a proper high elevation to develop the required pressure in the heating system.

It is also understood that a valve control end it of the supply pipe may be used for attachment to the pipe system of an apartment or building remote from the jail.

The hot water supply pipe M is connected to a standard furnace ll and the return pipe l8 of the heating system also communicates with one of the tubular bars of the cell i and the pressure tank i5, it being understood that this return pipe is in communication with the lower portion of the furnace.

To supply fresh water to the hot water heating pipe system, I provide the usual valve controlled pipe l9, whereby when the pressure in the hot water system lowers, due to evaporation or otherwise, the pressure in said system may be raised and the pressure expansion tank i5 is then filled.

The furnace is also provided with the usual water gauge 2i and when the water in the circulating system drops, through leakage or other causes, the dial fingers on said gauge close an electric circuit 2i, into which circuit a bell 22 is connected, whereby when the water pressure lowers, the bell will sound an alarm, it being understood that the bell circuit is supplied from any suitable source through a transformer 23.

It is also understood that the hot water pipe system is provided with the usual air vent valves.

In connecting the hot water system, for supplying heat to an independent apartment, the return pipe 53 of said system is also provided with a valve controlled end 55, whereby the circult to the apartment is completed.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that if any one of the tubular bars is out or broken out, the pressure of the fiuid will drop, whereby the alarm bell 22 will be sounded. It

s is also apparent, in the event that the locking latch I!) or latch plate iii are interrupted by cutting or filing, that the fluid in these parts, due to leakage, will drop in pressure, whereby the alarm signal is sounded. In other words, all of I the confining elements of a jail cell are thoroughly safeguarded against any attempt of a prisoner to break out by filing or cutting the various elements.

As illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, as a substitute for a hinged door to a cell, I have shown a sliding door A, the same being composed of connected tubes and suspended by rollers B upon an overhead trackC. The upper horizontal reach tube of the door A is provided with an extension 24, which extension is in telescopic union with a sleeve 25 that may be suitably anchored to the track C and said sleeve communicates with the fluid system through a supply pipe 26. Thus the door may be slid back and forth while fluid supply thereto is constantly maintained.

Iclaim:

In an alarm system for prison cells and the like; a lock for connection with a closure comprising a casing defining an enclosed chamber having inner and outer spaced walls defining a liquid receiving jacket completely about the chamber, means for supplying liquid under pressure to the jacket, whereby upon puncturing of the jacket, the pressure will be lowered in the system, a key operated bolt slidable through one side of the casing, said bolt being of a hollow construction forming a closed interior chamber, and a flexible liquid conduit housed within the casing connecting the jacket to the interior chamber of the bolt, whereby puncturing of the bolt will also lower the pressure within the system.

. OTTO W. BECKER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date l94,252 Glafcke Mar. 28, 1893 728,456 Gorman May 19, 1903 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 25,856 Great Britain Sept. 16, 1909 353,995 Germany May 29, 1922 

